Contact Groups

"Thanks very much. Very happy. A very useful app."
AB, Nov 2020

This app creates and manages Groups in the Apple Contacts app database directly on the iDevice. The groups and their members are stored in the Contacts database. If it is in an iCloud account then iOS manages the synchronisation automatically.

The app makes it very easy to create groups of frequently-used contacts eg those people you call frequently without having to search for them in Recents or putting them all in Favourites. All on your iDevice without having to resort to laptops or web-based apps to manage the Contacts that are on your device.

The app can display and edit a Contact's details using the same interface as the Apple Contacts app.

Contact first name, last name and organisation are checked when searching to filter the contacts in a list - those in the current group or those not in the current group.

In the Group list, tap and hold or carefully swipe right to left to change the name of a group.

The list of Groups can be sorted alphabetically by using the switch in Settings->Contact Groups.

Contact Groups can send an email to all members of a group.

Contact Groups can create and add qualifying recipients to an SMS/text message for groups that contain Contacts with a mobile number in the following countries:

Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique and Türkiye.

Only numbers prefixed with + and the country code of the above countries and the digits which identify a mobile/cell number for that country are recognised.
Canada and the United States of America are not included because there seems to be no way to distinguish a mobile/cell number from a landline phone number.

The user can enter the relevant text. The app is not responsible for sending the message nor for any errors that may occur eg if the user does not have the ability to send texts internationally or the mobile number is incorrect etc.

Contact Groups can select and delete multiple contacts at the same time - select a group, tap Not In Group, tap Select and then select one or more contacts and tap the trash can that has appeared. A confirmation dialog will appear.

A Contact can be added to or removed from Groups: long-press the Contact to show the Groups to which it belongs. Swipe right-to-left to remove it from a Group. Tap Add to Groups to see a list of groups to which the Contact does not belong. Tap a Group to add the Contact to that Group. This can also be achieved by tapping the Contact to display Apple's Contact interface and then scrolling to the bottom to the 'Included in List' section.

The Contacts in a Group can be exported via the app as a VCard file for sharing or importing into other machines and devices, or saved to Files or DropBox etc for backup purposes.

The app itself does not send any data to any server.

Due to Exchange issues, the app is unable to create groups in Exchange/Outlook accounts.


SUPPORT

If you encounter any issues please use the email link at the bottom of the Help screen or on the Developer Website link on this screen.